Charges brought over expenses

Friday, February 05, 2010

Livingston MP Jim Devine is one of three Labour MPs and a Tory peer to face criminal charges over their expenses.

MPs Elliot Morley, Jim Devine, David Chaytor and Lord Hanningfield will be charged under the Theft Act.

A joint statement on behalf of Morley, Chaytor and Devine said: "We totally refute any charges that we have committed an offence and we will defend our position robustly. We are confident of our position and have been advised by eminent QCs."

Hanningfield said: "All the claims I have ever made were made in good faith. I have never claimed more in expenses than I have spent in the course of my duties. To avoid any embarrassment or distraction for my party, I am standing down from my frontbench duties in the House of Lords with immediate effect."

Revelations about MPs expenses emerged in May last year with the police going on to investigate a handful of cases.

Announcing the charges, Director of Public Prosecutions Keir Starmer said: "A careful and detailed police investigation followed in a small number of cases and by December 2009, the police had passed the files in six cases to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to determine whether or not any charges should be brought. These files have been reviewed very carefully by senior prosecuting lawyers in the CPS, assisted where necessary by an external and highly experienced criminal QC.

"In four cases, we have concluded that there is sufficient evidence to bring criminal charges and that it is in the public interest to charge the individuals concerned. Accordingly, summonses in these cases have been obtained from the City of Westminster Magistrates' Court and will now be served on the individuals in question."

Elliot Morley MP will face two charges of dishonestly claiming mortgage expenses totalling £30,000 between 2004 and February 2007 on a property in Winterton, Lincolnshire.

The charges allege he claimed "in excess of that to which he was entitled" between April 2004 and February 2006 and "when there was no longer a mortgage on that property" between March 2006 and November 2007.

David Chaytor MP is accused of "dishonestly claiming" £1,950 for IT services by using false invoices, and further sums of £12,925, for renting a property in London when he was actually the owner, and £5,425 for renting a property in Lancashire from his mother.

Jim Devine MP faces two charges of "dishonestly claiming" £3,240 for cleaning services between July 2008 and April 2009 and £5,505 for stationery in March 2009, using false invoices.

Paul White – the Conservative peer Lord Hanningfield – is accused of claiming "for expenses to which he knew he was not entitled" between March 2006 and May 2009, including overnight stays in London when he had been driven home.